Acquiring wisdom and knowing how to avoid the pitfalls of folly lead to personal well-being, happy family relationships, fruitful labors and good standing in the community (see outline, p. The frequent references to "my son(s)" ( 1:8,10 2:1 3:1 4:1 5:1) emphasize instructing the young and guiding them in a way of life that yields rewarding ends. “According to the prologue ( 1:1-7), Proverbs was written to give "prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young" ( 1:4), and to make the wise even wiser ( 1:5). Proverbs 3:4 says, “…Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” comments, While it is a book about wisdom and how we can and should pursue that, the book is ultimately a guide to pleasing God and our fellow man. Proverbs is one of the five “wisdom books” of the Bible, with the other four being Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon (Song of Songs). The Proverbs truly represent “the Book of Life” as every verse can jump out differently on any given day. No matter, the curiosity and the content alone certainly keep me engaged. I would be curious to have a conversation with King Solomon to understand his methods. Yet a few chapters later, the topic seems to resume. You might read what feels like a new theme, only to run a few verses and then change pace. These first chapters make up the context of and set the foundation for the remainder of the book.Īs you read Proverbs, you may notice how the topics intertwine and loop but in ways just different enough that it could pass as a new topic. Other themes include using money in the right context and running from sexual impurity. These chapters are generally more repetitive and seem to oscillate around main themes, such as fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowable Word author Peter Krol states that in order to really take in all that the book of Proverbs has to offer, you must first understand the first 9 chapters. This wisdom is evident throughout the book. In 2 Chronicles 1:8, we read that Solomon answered God’s proposal of asking for whatever he would like with a request for wisdom and knowledge so that “he may lead these people.” Verse 11 describes that God was pleased with Solomon since he did not ask for wealth or honor, so he granted him wisdom, knowledge, and wealth. Hebrew and Greek translations refer to proverbs as “parallel” or “similar to.” It is thought that the book of Proverbs was written and compiled sometime between the 10 th and 6 th centuries B.C. Context and Background of ProverbsĪ proverb is defined as a statement of general truth or advice. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’” A 40-year-reign and the Book of Proverbs later, we can see that Solomon took this charge seriously. “So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. 1 Kings 2-4 accounts for the charge David gave to Solomon before his death: “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. Scriptures point to Solomon carrying out the Godly work of King David. This lengthy range and history of prosperity during this time is a shining reflection on the type of leader he was. His span of leadership lasted some 40 years, like Kings David and Saul before him. Solomon reigned during what many refer to as Israel’s “Golden Age.” He was known for his wisdom, as we feel the power of as we read, as well as his accomplished record of buildings and other writings. The other two chapters were authored by Agur and King Lemuel, respectively. They are often referred to as the “Proverbs of Solomon” as he accounts for possibly 29 of the 31 chapters. King Solomon, who was the tenth son of King David and the second son of Bathsheba, was responsible for writing most of the Proverbs.
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